Rod weeder



Dec. 12, 1933.v F. T COURT 1,938,953

5%55 INVENTOR g l ily/MMM ZB A TTORNEYS.

DMn 12, 1933. F. T, COURT 1,938,953

ROD WEEDER Filed Deo. 26, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q gg D g'. En \o t0 L` J"\` gg 1- E 1 I EN# l" V` l i l Q E-EJ ATTORNEYS.

Dern 12, 193,3. ,E T COURT 1,938,953

ROD WEEDER Filed Dec. 26, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 e 107 4,7 6 66a k 55o; J40e 5e I N VEN TOR BY Kimm, @www M,

A TTORNEYS.

Patented De.12',1933 g 1,938,953

UNITED STATES mrsltrA trios ROD WEEDER Frank T. Court, Molina'lll., assignor to Deere &

Company, Moline, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 26, 1931 Serial No. 583,253

Y 20 Claims.V (Cl. E37- 42) The present invention relates to agricultural Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the same;

implements, and more particularly to rod weedig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional View taken ers of relatively wide span adapted Yto be drawn on the line 4 4 ci Fig. 2; by a tractor. Fig. 5 is av fragmentary elevational View look- 5 It is the principal object of my present invening rearwardly and showing the adjusting lever 60 tion to provide in an implement of this type a by which the amount of the weight of the impleiioating drive wheel for driving the rotary rod ,ofV ment that is imposed on the drive wheel may be the weeder whereby said wheel can accommodate Varied; Y itself to the contour of the ground without afect- Fig. 6 is a top plan view showing the arrange-v .19 ing the drive as the tractor rises and falls with ment 0f the various parts when in transport po- 65 respect to the implement in traveling over unsition; even ground. Fig. 7 is an enlarged end elevational view of Another object of the invention is to provide the same, and illustrating the position the caster such a floating drive wheel pivotally connected wheels assume when the implement is drawn endwith the frame Vwhereby it maybe swung up and wise; and 70` over into position to rest upon the frame in in'- Fig. 8 is a view illustrating theconnection beoperative position, thereby cutting down the overtween the hitch clevis and the tractor drawbar. all width of the implement when it is to be moved Y The present rod weeder comprises Va relatively endwise in transport. long rectangular main frame maderup of trans- 20. A further object of the invention is to provide verse members or bars 11 and 12 connected to- 75 means for imposing a portion of the'weight of gether by means of vrelatively short longitudithe implement on the floating drive wheel. nally extending members 13,14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and y A still further object of the invention is to pro- 19. A forwardly extending draft frame comprisvide means whereby the proportion of the weight ingmembers 21 and 22 is rigidly connected to the 25 of the implement placed upon thedrive wheel members -11 and 12 of the main frame by bolts 80 may be varied to suit particular requirements. 23 (see Fig. l), and the forward ends of the mem- A still further object of the invention is to bers 21 and 22 converge toward eachother and provide a single drive wheel at the center of the areconnected together by bolts 24. A hitch clevisv implement, and a. gauge wheel at each' en'd'of 25 is secured between the forward lends ofrsaid the implement for regulating the depth of penemembers 21 and 22 by said bolts and-such clevis 85 tration of the rotary rod and for supporting the extends downwardly therefrom. The hitch clevis ends 0f the implement. is provided with a series of holes 26 spaced verti- A still further object of the invention is to procally from each other to accommodate different" vide such supporting gauge wheels for the imheights of tractor drawbars, connection to which plement positioned in front of and in close proxiis made by means of a short U-shaped link 27190` mity to the rod,jwhereby more accurate gauging (see Fig. 8). Y is made possible and no wheel tracks are left in In the type of implement illustrated two rotatback of the machine. ing rods 28 and 29 are provided, the outer ends A still further object of the present invention of which extend outwardly beyond the outer ends is the provision of a wheel supporting ,structure of the implement, while ltheir inner ends overlap 95 for the weeder which is capable of supporting slightly at a point approximately midway bethe implement when in operation and yet capatween the ends of the implement, vas 'shown in ble of being arranged in position to allow the im- Fig. 3. The rod 28' is supported in pendants 31 plement t0 be mOVed endWiSe whereby the overbolted to the longitudinally extending frame bars all width of the implement when transporting 13 and 14. These pendants extend rearwardly 100 the same is reduced. :from the frame and are curved downwardly and Other objects and advantageous features willY forwardly in goose-neck formation (see Figs. 2 be apparent from' the following description of and 7 vThe rod 29 is supported in'similar pendthe invention taken in connection with the ac- Vants 32 bolted to the'longitudinally extending companying drawings, in which: frame bars 18 and 19. These several pendants 31 105 Fig. 1 is a top plan View showing a rod weeder and 32 are provided with shoe-like bearing housincorporating the features of the present invenings 33 in which the respective rotary rods 28 tion, and illustrating the positions of the variousV and 29 have bearing supports as by spools 33a. parts when in operating position; A centrally disposed pendant 34 shaped similarly Fig. 2 is an end elevational View of the same; to the pendants 31 and 32 and bolted to the lon- 110 gitudinally extending frame bar 16 is provided with a special shoe having two longitudinally spaced spools in which the inner ends of the two rods 28 and 29 are respectively journaled. The lower ends of the pendants are adapted to carry the rotary rods into the ground, as is readily understood by those familiar with rotary rod weeder structures.

By reason of the above described arrangement of the rods, one rod may be extended beyond the machine on one side and the other beyond the machine on the other side, which not only makes it possible to use a smaller frame for a given overall length of rod, but also facilitates the connec- I tion of a plurality of weeders together.

The greater portion of the weight of the machine is carried by a pair of caster wheels 35 and 36 respectively mounted when in operating position adjacent the opposite ends of the main frame of the implement forward of and in close proximity to the rotary rods 28 and 29, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The caster wheels 35 and 36 are also operable to gauge the depth to which the rotary rods 28 and 29 penetrate theground, as will be hereinafter described. The caster wheels 35 and 36 are respectively mounted on the lower ends of wheel spindles37 and v38 slidably mounted respectively in suitable sleeves formed in castings 39 and 41 secured by means of bolts 42 to suitable brackets 43`and 44, respectively, which in turn are flxedly connected to the front frame bar 12 of the main frame by `bolts 45, as best shown in Fig. 1. y

The depthto which the rotary rods 28 and 29 penetrate the ground is controlled by means of lever adjusting mechanisms 46 and 47 connected respectively with the spindles 37 and 38. These two .lever adjusting mechanisms are alike in structure, and that indicated by 47 at the right hand end of the implement which is the one illustrated in Fig. 2 will now be described. This mechanism comprises a suitable cap 48 journaled on the upper end of the spindle`38 and provided with an integral rearwardly extending member in the vform of a. sector 49 provided withnotches 51 adapted to receive the latch of a hand lever 52. The lever 52 is pivotally connected adjacent its lower end by a bolt 53 with a lug 54 formed integral with and extending laterally from the cap 48 opposite the sector member 49. As shown, the lever 52 extends beyond such pivot connection 53 and at its lower end is pivotally connected with a relatively long bar 55 bymeans of a bolt 56 extendingthrough said lever and any one of a series of longitudinally spaced holes 57 in the upper portion of the bar 55. The lower end of the bar 55 is pivotally connected by means of a bolt 58 with a lug 59 extending laterally from the upper portion ofv the sleeve member of the casting 41.

`ATo adjust the depth of penetration, the hand lever may be swung in one direction or the other o n its pivot 53 to move, the casting 41 vertically on Athe spindle 30, thereby' raising orlowering the frame relative to the wheel 36 to adjust the depth of penetration of the rod 29. When the desired depth adjustment of the rod 29 is reached the parts are locked in position by permitting the detent of the latch of the hand lever 52 to enter one of the notches 51 in the sector member 49. 'I'he range of movement of the casting41 vertically along the spindle 38, and, therefore, also the range of vertical movement of the rod 29, may also be varied by changing the pivotal connection 56 between the lower end of the hand 1ever 53 and the bar 55, to accomplish which it iS bearings 7 2 and only necessary to move the bolt 56 to one of the other holes 57 in the bar 55, as will be readily understood. .The various elements going to make up the adjusting lever mechanism 46 at the opposite side of the implement are the same as those just described in connection with the mechanism 47, and they are therefore indicated by the same reference numerals.

The rotary rods 28 and 29 are rotated by power derived from a drive wheel 61, the mounting of which drive wheel and the means for driving the rods therefrom will now be described. This drive wheel 61 is suitably journaled in bearings Vprovided in the ends of forwardly extending arms of a U-shapedbracket 62 pivotally connected to the forwardly extending ends 15a and 17a of the longitudinall members 15 and 17 of the main frame byvmeans of a bolt 62 extending through said members and said arms, as shown in Fig. l.

The axle 64 of the drive wheel 61 extends outwardlybeyond its bearing inV one of the arms of bracket 62, and a sprocket wheel 65 is keyed to such end. The sprocket 65 is connected by means of a chain 66 with a second sprocket 67 keyed to the main drive shaft 68 of the implement. The intermediate portion of the drive shaft 68 is journaled in-a bearing 69 supported by a bracket 71 secured to and depending downwardly from the rear frame bar 1l of the main frame, while the opposite ends of said shaft are respectively jcurnaled in pairs of bearings 72, 73 and 74, 75, as best shown in Fig. 1. The 73 at oner end of the shaft 68 are supported in two depending arms of a U-shaped bracket 76, while the bearings 74 and 75 at the opposite end of the shaft are supported in the two depending arms of a U-shaped bracket 77, cach of said brackets being secured to the member 1l of the main frame by means of four bolts 78. v

The rotary rod 26 at the left hand side of the implement is driven from the drive shaft 68 through driving connections including a universal joint 79, shaft 81, and universal joint 82 (see Fig. 3). The-universal joint 82 is fixed to the inner end of a jack-shaft 83 journaled in bearings 84 and.85 supported in the downwardly extending arms of the U-shaped bracket 77 in rear of the bearings 74 and 75, see Fig. 1. Fixed on the jack-shaft 83 between the bearings 84 and 85 is agear 86 which meshes with a gear 87 fixed on the main drive shaft 68 between the bearings 74 and 75, whereby the jack-shaft 83 is driven from the main drive shaft 68.

'Ihe rod 29 at the opposite side of the implement is driven through similar mechanism from a gear xed on the opposite end of the shaft 68 between the bearings 72 and 73 and, therefore, it is not deemed necessary to describe the same in detail herein.

For the purpose of imposing a portion of the Weight of the implement on the drive wheel 61 to increase its traction, a suitable control mechanism indicated as an entirety by the numeral 88 is provided. This mechanism includes an arm 89 fixed to and extending upwardly from the left hand arm of the U-shaped bracket 62, and a rod 91 pivotally connected to the upper end of the arm 89 and extending forwardly therefrom. As best shown in Fig. 4, the forward end of said rod 91 extends into the coil of a spring 92, and the rear end of the spring is welded to the rod 91 as shown at 93. The front end of the spring is hooked into a perforation in a vertically extending strap 94, the upper end of which is boltedto a hand lever95 (see Fig. 5). The lower end' of the;V lever 95 andi the :lower end of the strap 94'areI pivotally Yconnected by means of a bolt 96 to a bracket 97 secured to the draft frame member' 21; by means of boltsv 98 and extending upwardlyv therefrom between saidlever and strap. The upwardly extendingV portion: of the bracket 97 is in the form of an Varcuate shaped plate 99 providedixr its upper'edge'with aseries of notches 1011.(see1'ig." 2)d for' receiving they detent'of a spring l'atch A102 Vcarried by the handV lever 95. As' will-"be readily understood, by moving the hand` lever 95- forwardlythe spring- 92A isl stressed in tension', and the greater the tension imposed on the spring the greater'is the load applied-on the wheel 61. IAs the lever r95 is moved rearwardly-relieving the tensionl in the spring*v the weightimposf-:dl on the wheel 61- is correspond'- ingly decreased. If-'theV lever ismoved rearwardly toV a point where spring 92` is under no stress,

none of the. weight'of the'implement is imposed on the wheel. If theV lever be-m'oved rearwardly beyond such lastmentioned position the wheel 61 may belifted off ofthe ground, which may sometimes be desirable when transporting the implement with the'various parts associated as shown in Figure 1.

Iny the operation of the implement, as the pulling tractor rises andv falls with respect to the implement in travelling overvuneven ground, the front end of the draft frameY through its hitch connection with the tractor is carried with the tractor causing the frameof the implement to tilt correspondingly; This tilting actionv of thel frame, however, j has Asubstantially no eifect onV the depth vposition of thefrotating rods 22 and 23 becauseY the caster wheelsz and 36 arev positioned very closeto and fjustin front of the rods; and as `suchwheels regulate the depth of iipenetrationofthe rods, such depth is not materially ivariedi; Furthermore, this'tilting of the' frame ofthe implement does not affect the drive-l from the driyelwheel 61 to the maindrive shaft 68 which drives therotaryrods 22 and 23 be- .lcause thev drive y.wheel -61f through` its pivotal connection 63 with the main frame will float with respect to such framefandth'e drive wheel 61, by reason vof such floating connection with the frame can accommodate itself y to the contour of thev f `ground without affeungfthe drive.l 1f, in the operationl of th e implement the drive wheell should meet-With a frise or a hollow in the ground surface, it merely-l rides over such rise or *intothe lhollow; so that `a constant-driving torque -t is lapplied-to therods at all times'.-

As" abovementioned this implement is one of relativelywide yspam-anditis therefore rdesirable vthrfitbemovedV endwise when transported, and`V in Figs. 6 and V' the implement is shownas `set -up for this. purpose; v AFor `transporting purposes, ythe bracket 44;' togetherwith 'the gauge wheel :36 'and the means by which it. is connectopenings 105 being Aprovided in the frame member 11 forreceiving the bolts 45, as shown in Fig. 3. Providedfwith the implement is an aux-l iliary wheel 106 journaled in the lower end fof a spindle '10T-.and this wheel is then mounted under the right Yhand end of the Vframe (see Fig. 6). The upper endv of the spindle 107V is flattened outv at its upperV end as shown at 168 and provided withY three bolt holes for receivingjboltsV 109 by which inFig; 7. The Wheel 61 is then swung upwardlyabout its lpivot connection-63 to the position shownin Fig.- '7, in which position said wheel rests on the top of the membersfll and 12 of saidV The, transverse members 15 and 1-7 of` the main frame, to which the U-shaped bracketframe.

carrying: the wheel 61 is pivotallyV connected by the bolt 63, extend-'forwardly aisuicient distance from the front frame bar 12 of the' main` frame sothat suchupward-swinging of the wheel is madepossible.

For pulling-the implement endwise a specialV draft Ymember 112 is provided (seeFig. 6),'andit is pivotallyconnected to the lleft hand:` end ofA the mainV frame-as shown. As the implement is drawn endwise in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 6, the caster wheels 35 and 36 will assume the position shown in said figure.-

I claim:-

1. In a-rotary rod weeder, the combinationv of a frame, `a transversely extending` rotary rod carried by said frame-and adapted to penetrate the ground,` a drive wheel `for driving saidY rodconnected with ythe frame for floatingy movement relative thereto, and means for loading the drive wheel to increase the traction;

2. In arotary rod -weeder, the combination'oi a frame, gauge Wheelssupporting said frame, a transversely extending rotary rod carried by said frame and adapted to penetrateV the ground, a drive-wheel -for driving saidV rodpositionedv intermediate the ends of said frame-means forloading` thel drive wheel to increase the traction thereof, and means for-adjustingthel loading means tov vary' the magnitude thereof.

3. In a rotary Arod weeder, the' combination o! aframeysupporting Wheels therefor, a transversely'extendingvrotary rod Vcarriedby saidv frame land adapted to penetrate the ground, a drive wheel for driving said'rod vconnected with the `framefor floating movement relative thereto, andmeans for imposing a portion of thev weight of the implementen said drive wheel.`

v 4. In a rotary yrod-weeden` the combination of a frame, supporting wheelsV therefor, a trans versely extending Yrotary rod carried by said frame-and 'adapted' to penetrate the7 ground, a drivewheel for driving-said rod connected with the lframe for oating-movement relative thereto, and-means ,for imposing a portionof the weight Vof the' implement on said drive wheel,- said means being also operable to raise'the drive wheel off of the ground.

5. In ra rotary rodV weeder; the combination of a frame, a transversely extending rotary rod carried by -said frame and adapted to penetrate the ground, a' bracket pvotallyyconnected with said frame for vverticalmovement relative thereto, a drive wheel for driving said rod journaled` in said bracket, whereby saidwheel canI move vertically relative to the frame; and means for imposing a portion of the Weight of the implement Aon said drive wheel, said means comprising a spring connected with the bracket and with the frame.

6. In Va rotary rod weeder, the combination' ofa frame, a transversely extending rotary rod carried by said frame andadapted to penetrate the ground, gauge wheels supporting the r'outer ends of said frame and operable tov gauge the depth of penetration of said rotary rod, a drive wheel for driving saidy rotary rod connected with the frame for floating movement relative thereto, and means for imposing a portion of the weight of the implement on said drive wheel, said means being aranged so that the portion of the weight of the implement to which the wheel is subjected is not materially changed as the wheel moves vertically relative to thev frame within the limits of the movement of the wheel under normal operating conditions.

7. In a rotary rod weeder, the combination of a frame, Va transversely extending rotary rod carried by said frame and adapted to penetrate the ground, gauge wheels supporting the outer ends of said frame and operable to gauge the depth of penetration of saidrotary rod, a drive wheelpositioned intermediate said gauge wheels for driving said rotary rod and connected with the' frame for floating movement relative thereto, and means for imposing a portion of the weight of the implement on said drive wheel.

8. In a rotary rod weeder, the combination of a frame, a transversely extending rotary Arod carried by said frame and adapted to penetrate the ground, gauge wheels supporting the outer ends of said frame and operable to gauge the depth of penetration of said rotary rod,a drive wheel for driving said rod connected with the frame for floating movement relative thereto, means for imposing a portion of the weight of the implement on said drive wheel, and means acting in conjunction with said rst named means operable to vary the amount of weight of said frame imposed upon said drive wheel.

9. In arotary'rod weeder, the combination of a frame, supporting wheelstherefor, a-transverselyv extending rotary rod carried by said frame and adapted to penetrate the ground, a drive wheel for driving said rod connected with the frame for floating movement'relative thereto, and means for imposing a portion of theV weight of the implement on said drive wheel, said means' being operable to vary the amount of weight of said frame imposed on said drive wheel.

10. In a rotary rod weeder, the combination of a frame, apair of transversely extending rotary rods carried by said frame and adapted to penetrate the ground, said rods having 'their adjacent ends disposed between the ends of said Aframes, `means supporting the `outer ends of said frame rod, and a drive wheel for 'driving said rotary rod connected with the .frame for floating movement relative thereto.

12.'In a rotary rod weeder, the combination' of a frame, transversely extending rotary rod means carried by said frame and adapted` to penetrate the ground, gauge wheels positioned forward of said rotary rod for supportingsaid frame and gauging the depth of penetration of said rotary rod, and a drive wheelpositioned midway between the ends of said rotary rod for driving said rod.

13. In a rotary rod weeder, the combination of a frame, a transversely extending rotary rod carriedby said frame and adapted to penetrate the ground, castering gauge wheels supporting the outer ends of said frame and positioned forward of and in close proximity to said rotary rod for gauging the depth of penetration of said rod, and a floating drive 'wheel positioned midway between the ends of said rotary rod for driving said rod.

14. In a rotary rod weeder, the combination of a frame, a transversely extending rotary rod carried by said frame and adapted to pentrate the ground, castering gauge wheels positioned forward of and in close proximity tovsaid rotary rod for supporting said frame and gauging the depth of penetration of said rotary rod anda Boating drive wheel positioned midway betweenlthe ends' of said rotary rod for driving said rod.

l5. In a rotary rod weeder, the combination of a'frame, castering gauge wheels supporting the outer ends of said frame, a transversely extending rotary rod carried by said frame and adapted to penetrate the ground, a drive wheel for driving said rod, and means pivotally connecting said drive wheel with said frame whereby said drive wheel may be swung on said pivot means to transport position upon said frame.

16. In a rotary rod weeder, the combination of a frame, atransversely extending rotary rod carried by said frame and adapted to penetrate the ground, castering gauge wheels positioned forward of and in close proximity to said rotary rod adjacent the outer ends thereof for supporting said frame and gauging the depth of penetration .of said rotaryrod, a drive wheel for driving said rod, and'pivot means connecting said drive wheel with said frame whereby said drive wheel has iloating movement relative to said frame when in operative position and is swingable on said pivot means to move it ytofan inoperative position over said frame. I

1'7. In a rotary rod weeder, the combination of a frame comprising a pair of relatively long transverse members and relatively short longitudinal connecting members, the intermediate pair of longitudinal members being spaced apart transversely and extending forwardly of said forward transverse member, aV transversely extending rotary rod carried by said frame and adapted to penetrate the ground, castering gauge' wheels' positioned forward of and in close proximity to said rotary rod adjacent the outer ends thereof for supporting saidframe and gaugingA the depth of penetration of said rotary rod, a. forwardly extending bracket including transversely spaced arms and pivotally connected by pivot means with the forwardly extended portions of said intermediate members for movement in a vertical plane, a drive wheel for driving said rotary rod journaled on said `bracket between the arms thereof, whereby said drive wheel has oating movement relative to said frame when in operative position and is swingable on said pivot means to move it to an inoperative position over said frame. Y

18. In a rotary rod weeder,l the combination'of a frame, a transversely extending rotary rod carried by said frame and adapted to penetrate the ground, castering gauge wheels supporting the outer ends of said frame and operable to gauge the depth of penetration of said rotary rod, a drive wheel for driving said rotary rod connected with the frame for floating movement relative thereto, and means for raising the drive wheel out of contact with the ground to provide for endwise transport of the framev on said castering wheels.

19. In a rotary rod weeder, the combination of a frame, a transversely extending rotary rod carried by said frame and adapted to penetrate the ground, wheels supporting the outer ends of said frame and operable to gauge the depth of penetration of said rotary rod, a drive shaft journaled on the frame, a centrally disposed drive Wheel connected with the intermediate portion of said drive shaft, and means connected with the end of said drive shaft for operating said rotary rod.

20. In a rotary rod Weeder, a frame, a pair of transversely extending rotary rods having their inner ends disposed adjacent one another, said rods being carried by said frame and adapted Vto 

